BANVALI, BHAI,

BANVALI, BHAI, and his brother Paras Ram, Brahmans by birth, were devotees of Guru Hargobind. They were professional physicians and, as says Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, they treated Sikhs and holymen free of charge, and went travelling preaching the word of the Guru. Once they asked the Guru why attendance at holy congregation (sadh sarigat) was given primacy when only sabda (the Holy Word) was efficacious enough to save all. Guru Hargobind answered: “It is in sangat alone that seekers meet gurmukhs, i.e. the enlightened ones, and receive from them prescriptions for a holy life.”

References :

1. Mani Singh, Bhai, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala. Amritsar, 1955
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1926-37